IRGC arrests imam in Syria’s Deir ez-Zor countryside
DEIR EZ-ZOR, Syria (North Press) – Militants of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) arrested on Thursday at midnight an imam under the pretext of incitement in a city in the eastern countryside of Deir ez-Zor, eastern Syria.
A local source from the city of Abu Kamal in the eastern countryside of Deir ez-Zor said, “A patrol of the IRGC arrested Omar al-Maddah, an imam of al-Fateh mosque, in the countryside of Abu Kamal for inciting prayers to not be dragged into Shiism.”
The source added that al-Maddah, who hails from al-Boleel in the eastern countryside of Deir ez-Zor, has been living with his family in Abu Kamal for years.
Dozens of residents of the city protested on Friday in front of the IRGC headquarters and demanded the release of al-Maddah; however, the IRGC militants threatened with killing in case protests continued, forcing the protesters to return to their houses, according to the source.
The source went further saying that Dar al-Fatwa of the IRGC, two days ago, issued a list for religious sermons on Friday to be given in mosques in Deir ez-Zor and forced imams to adhered to.
Since the eruption of the events in Syria in 2011, Iran has officially announced its support to the Syrian government and sent military consultants to support government forces in their war against factions of the Syrian opposition.
The Iranian-backed militias and government forces control vast areas of the Syrian Badia (Desert) and Deir ez-Zor.